Dodge Durango SRT: High-End Performance for the Family

A 2017 WAPA Rally first look at Dodge’s hot SUV. High-end performance SUVs are nothing new. In the early 1990s, the GMC Typhoon lifted the fun quotient considerably by delivering a turbocharged 4.3-liter V6 engine, Garrett intercooler, BorgWarner transfer case, and a self-leveling rear suspension. It rivaled the performance of … Read more

First Look: 2018 Mercedes-Benz C 350e PHEV

A Kent Island glimpse at a compact luxury PHEV sedan. The Mercedes-Benz brand has remained elusive among my press fleet vehicles, a situation I plan to amend by next year. You simply can’t properly evaluate the market without a steady dose of M-B models to compare with Audi, BMW, and … Read more

Kia Optima Hybrid: Extended Drive Time

Many miles and smiles with Kia’s Optima Hybrid sedan. Hybrid sales peaked in 2013 and have fallen steadily since. Low fuel prices are a significant contributor, falling below $2 per gallon at times with those low prices covering large swathes of America. Another reason is the advent of modern electric … Read more

Highlights of the 2017 WAPA Rally!

Drive time in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay for the WAPA Rally. Once each year, members of the Washington Automotive Press Association gather at a special location in the DC area to test drive new vehicles. The annual WAPA Rally is an important event, which also allows members to … Read more